Debbie Dingell: “I support H.R. 3450, the ``Health Care Safety Net Improvement Act,'' an important piece of legislation. Its progress has…”

“I support H.R. 3450, the ``Health Care Safety Net Improvement Act,'' an important piece of legislation. Its progress has been delayed for nearly a year by a Republican leadership that was willing to jeopardize a bill of vital importance to millions of Americans by attempting to attach an extremely controversial, yet completely non-related, amendment to this bill. Thankfully we now have an opportunity, though long overdue, to pass this legislation. H.R. 3450 will reauthorize the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the Community Health Centers program, and will establish a Community Access demonstration program (CAP). H.R. 3450 is vital to providing health care services to the uninsured and under-insured. Health centers are located in more than 3,400 communities in all 50 states and often are the only available source of care for uninsured and medically under served individuals. Health centers provide primary health care services to more than 12 million people per year--nearly five million of whom have no health insurance coverage. Currently, there are over 41 million uninsured Americans and untold numbers of under-insured. Due to the slowing economy, this number is increasing rapidly. As a result, demand for health care services has increased drastically, forcing risky delays for important primary and preventive health care services. Health centers are effective and efficient providers of care to millions of our country's most vulnerable people.”